Discover Sarganserland: mountain trails and cultural history

In Sarganserland, alpine hikes meet insights into the region’s cultural and industrial history. The Sarganserland electoral district is an administrative unit of the Canton of St. Gallen and comprises the municipalities of Sargans, Vilters-Wangs, Bad Ragaz, Pfäfers, Mels, Flums, Walenstadt and Quarten. Its elevation ranges from 419 to 3,239 metres above sea level. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you would like to focus on mountain trails, historic places or the lakeside landscape.

Hiking trails between mountain lakes and peaks

The 5-Lakes Hike on the Pizol passes five crystal-clear mountain lakes and offers insights into the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site. This high-alpine route is seasonal. It is challenging, with three strenuous ascents and descents as well as scree and rocky sections; hiking boots with good tread are essential. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The Garmil high-altitude hike is listed as 6.6 kilometres long, with an approximate duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes. It is part of the 4-Peak Tour on the Pizol. There are information panels along some sections of the route; from the summit, you can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and Sarganserland. The 7-Peak Hike on the Flumserberg starts at Maschgenkamm, crosses seven peaks and returns to Tannenboden. Route conditions and lift services are seasonal.

On the Flumserberg, the Rohan-Rothirsch Erlebnisweg, the GeoGalerie and the Alpenfloraweg combine light physical activity with information about local nature and the region’s history. The GeoGalerie offers information about the formation of the Alps and the chance to discover fossils and weathering features. At Walenstadtberg, the Alp- und Kulturweg Schrina has two routes with different difficulty levels. Their themes range from alpine farming and culture to fauna, flora and geology. The short section from Paxmal to Alp Schrina is suitable for strollers; conditions and signage may change.

Places and traces of history

The small town of Sargans was founded around 1250. The Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans began building Sargans Castle from 1100 onwards. Today, the Sarganserland Museum in the castle presents the history of the region. Its exhibitions cover, among other things, geology, mining at Gonzen and iron smelting in Sarganserland. Traces of 900 years of construction are also visible in the exhibition rooms.

The Gonzen Mine is considered a cultural asset of national importance and has around 90 kilometres of tunnels and galleries. The Mining Museum offers insight into the work of the miners. Public tours of the iron mine are held on set dates for individuals and small groups; dates may change. Film screenings and visits to the Mining Museum are available by calling ahead. Check the dates and advance-booking information before your visit.

The Drachenloch Museum in Vättis focuses on finds from the Drachenloch, including Stone Age cave bear bones and documents from the 1917–1923 excavation period. The Vättis Visitor Centre explains the connection between earthquakes and mountain formation. Its attractions include live broadcasts of recordings from seismic stations run by the Swiss Seismological Service. Vättis also has a sculpture trail featuring stone sculptures and two cross-country ski trails with a total length of 20 kilometres. The trails are part of weather-dependent winter infrastructure.

Tamina Gorge and the Old Baths of Pfäfers

The Old Baths of Pfäfers are considered the oldest preserved Baroque baths in Switzerland. Tamina Gorge is a 750-metre-long, 70-metre-deep rock cleft; thermal water with a temperature of 36.5 degrees flows from the rock. From the Old Baths of Pfäfers, a secured path runs 450 metres through the gorge to the spring-water grotto. Access conditions may depend on the season or the weather.

The Old Baths of Pfäfers can only be reached by PostBus, the Rösslipost or on foot; transport availability is seasonal. Private and public guided tours take visitors through the museum and Tamina Gorge to the spring. Check the availability of guided tours before travelling. This will help you take the special conditions of the excursion into account when planning.

Lakeside and mountain landscapes

Chapfensee lies above Mels at an elevation of 1,030 metres above sea level. The facilities there include several fire pits and a circular trail. On the northern shore of Lake Walen, the steeply rising Churfirsten mountains form the boundary. The deep-blue lake in front of the steep rock faces is reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. Visitors interested in water sports can rent kayaks or SUP boards on Lake Walen; availability is seasonal.

Paxmal at Walenstadtberg is a peace monument by artist Karl Bickel. It is freely accessible from spring to autumn; check seasonal access before your visit. When visibility is good, Paxmal offers views of the Churfirsten mountains and Lake Walen. In Walenstadt, the lido offers a pebble beach, a sunbathing lawn, a diving tower and a raft on Lake Walen during the season. The roughly two-kilometre-long Schrina toboggan run at Walenstadtberg is also dependent on winter operations, which are weather-dependent.

Discover more destinations: Flumserberg, Oberterzen, Sargans, Bad Ragaz, Tannenheim, Flums, Pfäfers, Quinten, Vättis, Walenstadt, Vilters-Wangs, Mels, Quarten.

Back to the overview of destinations: St. Gallen.